All the chatter in legal and media circles is over the
decision of the deputy leader of the GSD, Daniel Feetham, to threaten legal
proceedings against the New People edited by Juan Carlos Perez. Of course for
the rest of Gibraltar more important matters such as the price of fish and
whether Rafa Benitez was a good choice as manager for Chelsea holds sway.
I have not read the article that has Feetham up in
arms but I gather the gist of it. However I have seen the letter from Hassans
threatening fire and brimstone unless Perez and the New People recant. For
those who might be interested the article revolves around allegations of
corruption in that Feetham’s car is alleged to have undergone repairs in the
government repair shop and whether a bill was paid or not.
Curiously the letter from Hassans (which is an irony
in itself) is fairly sterile and refers to “our client”: indeed as far as I can
recall there was a signature but no name just the corporate Hassans sign off.
Of course this belies the fact that the said Daniel
Feetham is a partner of Hassans as is his brother Nigel. So did Daniel write
his own letter? I do not believe either Daniel or indeed Nigel are libel
lawyers so did he get somebody else to pen it for him? As I am reliably
informed the Feethams have been in the habit of passing work to the former
Supreme Leader Peter Caruana, perhaps he wrote it. It would be interesting to
know.
I am not a lawyer but a mere hack but I would have
though the purpose of sending such a letter could severe one of two purposes:
perhaps both. Whether innocent or guilty the sender might hope to put the fear
of God in to the recipient and have him or her back down. Well Perez, a former
government minister, MP and political heavyweight in the truest sense of the
word, is not going to be intimidated: so if that was the intention then the
ploy is doomed to failure. The other purpose would be if the recipient did not
meet the letter’s terms, or opt to negotiate, then to go to court to seek justice
presumably in the belief you’ll win. It remains to be seen how this battle
plays out in the coming weeks.
However Feetham points out in his/Hassans letter that
political corruption is a criminal offence. Indeed it is. So what if in this skirmish
Perez should win the battle with Feetham – will the deputy GSD leader and
former Justice Minister be prosecuted? Just asking!
Daniel Feetham was a member of the last GSD
government. So if corruption is detected in the awarding of say the airport
contracts or as being the cause of the original cost overrunning by such a huge
amount then one presumes he will support the prosecution of those involved.
If the GSD government is found to have acted corruptly
in the awarding of other contracts or breaking EU contract laws then no doubt
Daniel Feetham supports the prosecution of the minister or ministers involved.
If there is found to be corruption in the affairs of
the GSD government then I am sure Daniel Feetham will want to see his former
colleague or colleagues brought to book too. Indeed the Attorney General has
stated that the caretaker GSD administration did act illegally over the promise
of a pay increase to a government owned company during the election period. As
Feetham was the Minister of Justice when then this illegal act took place
should he be prosecuted? Just asking, just asking!
Whilst we are on the law: the former Supreme Leader
broke Gibraltar’s Nature Protection Act by allowing Spanish fishermen to
illegally fish in our waters. The decision to break that law was taken whilst
Feetham still had hopes of one day leading the GSLP. However he was Justice
Minister during the period when the former Supreme Leader continued to flout
that law. So does he support the prosecution of his political boss for breaking
the law?
May be he does: may be he doesn’t – or may be is it
one law for the GSD and another for the rest of us.
